I certainly enjoyed a long Locadia pass that was getting moaned and groaned at until the moment it arrived on Solly's toe.
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[Albion] Dale Stephens
- Thread starter Stato
- Start date
I certainly enjoyed a long Locadia pass that was getting moaned and groaned at until the moment it arrived on Solly's toe.
Nixonator
Well-known member
One of them was quite late on when he was being charged down by 3 players and no other was pass on. Didn't stop the ball watchers groaning, there's a few on here.
Agree but his lack on pace now is starting to show.
He never had it in the first place particularly. But his positional sense and positional disipline enables DS to keep doing his sitting role expertedly.
As usual spot on.
Pace wise, the only time he has been exposed at this level, was probably Chelsea at home in the last game (when he was poor), but the player who outpaced him was..................
Eden Hazard
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Just watched the highlights again https://www.ngolos.com/videos/2018-12-26-brighton-arsenal
- build up to Murray's non-goal: two great raking passes from Stephens
- the ball through to Solly in the second half for his big chance? - Stephens
- the ball to Locadia when he dragged it wide? - Stephens
Anyone complaining that he's always defensive should be made to watch this over and again. As you say: great player.
Nixonator
Well-known member
I did mention those 3 passes a few times. If you watch the full match back he also defends more than half our corners, and turns defence into attack a few times by winning us possession.
In fact, the only thing you can fault him on in the entire 90mins is an attempted volleyed cross field pass that he gets horribly wrong in the first 10mins.
It's truly amazing how people see what they want to see based on their pre-determined bias, and in some cases fabricate entirely.
Is it PotG?
Thrifty non-licker
All down to opinion I guess, but the fact is we are so much better with DS in the side. He is. on the whole, going toe to toe with some of the best midfielders around. This ain't The Championship.
Long may he reign.
Long may he reign.
HalfaSeatOn
Well-known member
The recent Bournemouth away match showed the need for Stephen's sitting in front of the back four. He's had a stop-start first half of the season with injury and suspension but back to doing his job against Arsenal.
So true.
But, do you find yourself less tolerant with certain players?
I know I do, the last one was probably Gardner during his loan period, as yet another opposition player sprinted past him as he ambled back....
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I found myself having little patience with Obika or later Akpom. Just me I guess.
Nixonator
Well-known member
Oh no doubt there's a certain amount of bias from all of us, loan players in particular have to set the world alight to be tolerated.
I was never big on Lingard but admit he could probably do a job for us now
Gardner I had very little patience with from the start. Watching him line up another free kick was soul destroying.
Two Professors
Two Mad Professors
And sometimes reaches one of our players.He is much better passing sideways or backwards(and I think he's our best midfielder).
He plays the right pass, end of subject. If it’s not on going forward, DS passes to another team mate instead.
Sirnormangall
Well-known member
- Sep 21, 2017
- 2,963
Very true - had those passes been made by Hazard, Pogba, Ozil or any other “big six” midfielder, the pundits would have been drooling over it. But he’s Dale Stephens who plays for little old Brighton.
Couldn’t resist .... DS, quality PL player.
loco61
Well-known member
yes!!
Bold Seagull
strong and stable with me, or...
He got some stick from the crowd yesterday, and he did make some mistakes, but I actually thought him and Propper had really good second halves. I wouldn’t be surprised if he had the most tackles and interceptions on the park. We can’t afford to get on players backs though, and I was pleased he got some big claps when he sprayed some excellent long passes out to our wings. Under appreciated for me.